Now I know,
This is the first time we've
                  spoke.
But, I wanna be you.
I wanna wear your skin as a
                  cloak.
In your ambiance, I will
                  soak
And when they speak my name, i'll say who?

I wanna wear your clothes as
                    mine.
I want to live your life.
I want your receding
                    hairline.
I want your growing
                    waistline.
I want to love your wife.

9-5, I'd work your
                job.
I'd love your bratty son.
In the suburbs, a faceless
               blob.
I wouldn't  be an upturned
               slob.
And when I'd sit in your car or your study, I wouldn't think of a noose nor a gun.

I’ve made friends
with the half-dead
spider
in my bathroom;

we watch each other’s
attempts at crawling
every morning-

him, in any
general direction,
and me,
to ease my stomach
into the toilet bowl.

he cheers for me
as I retch
and retch
and throw up
a little
stomach bile,

spit,
wipe my mouth,
thank my audience;

he’s my
best friend,
but he
doesn’t drink
unfortunately.

When you witnessed
and survived war,
seen villages destroyed,
lots of family
members dead,
lost the people
you love
and care about.
You know a
part of you
died with them,
and you will never
be the same,
then you will
understand why
it is good
to seek peace.
You will understand
diplomacy.
You will negotiate
with the assumed
enemy to find
the right way
out of the situation.
You will never
do anything that
will cause your
people to go
through unnecessary
harrowing experience
and nightmare or
cause the annihilation
of your tribe and
communities and children,
women and the elderly.
You will respect
and value the
dignity of your
people's lives and interests.
You will learn
tolerance and discipline
to deal with
the most difficult
and complex people.
Be more tolerant
in handling difficult
situations.
You will be
convinced and know
that war is not
just the solution
or the answer
to any problem.
©2019,Emeka Mokeme. All Rights Reserved.